The entire Great Hall was frozen.
Moments ago, everyone had watched Colin Creevey sitting beneath the Sorting Hat.
Now, the boy standing there was someone entirely different.
Standing beneath the hat is now Alexander Chen.
Gasps erupted across the hall.
Alexander stood up, set the Sorting Hat down, and gave everyone a cheerful wave.
"Hello, everyone," he said brightly. "It's another great year."
At the front, Professor McGonagall stared in disbelief.
"…Polyjuice?"
Alexander shrugged casually.
"Yes. I threatened poor Colin there, so please don't punish him. This is definitely my fault."
He smiled widely and tossed the small bottle at Snape.
Snape caught it smoothly.
He sniffed it and touched the liquid.
His eyes widened slightly.
"It is not a potion…"
He paused.
"…Wait."
Snape stared harder at the bottle.
"…Is this Thief's Downfall?"
A wave of murmurs spread instantly.
Snape looked directly at Alexander.
"How did you obtain this from Gringotts Wizarding Bank?!"
Alexander laughed loudly.
"Galleons of course!"
He grinned.
"A little bit of money can go a long way when you need to acquire things, Professor."
Alexander slowly turned to face the entire hall.
"Well, everyone…"
He spread his arms.
"Enjoy the show."
Then he looked down at the hat.
"Hello, Racist Hat."
The Sorting Hat trembled.
"M-Mr. Chen… I am not racist…"
It nervously said.
"We can be friends? Look… I have changed…"
Alexander tilted his head.
"Well... let's find out."
Before anyone could react—
Alexander grabbed the hat off the wooden stool
Then—
SLAM!
He threw it onto the stone floor and began stomping on it.
"DIE RACIST HAT!"
STOMP!
"YOU SHOULD RETIRE!"
STOMP!
"DIE! DIE! DIE!"
The Great Hall erupted into chaos.
Professors immediately began casting spells at the barrier.
Brilliant flashes of magic slammed against the reinforced shield.
Meanwhile, Alexander continued kicking, punching, and slamming the hat against the ground.
The Sorting Hat shrieked.
"STOP! STOP!"
After several brutal seconds, Alexander paused.
He glanced around the hall.
"Oh wow."
He grinned.
"Professors… it seems you've all been working on your spellwork."
Then he lifted his wand.
"Reparo."
The battered hat slowly repaired itself.
Alexander laughed loudly.
"This is good practice for everyone!"
He lifted the hat again.
"HAHAHA!"
"Round two, Racist Hat!"
Alexander slammed the hat on the ground again and flicked his wand.
A burst of fire shot downward.
Flames engulfed the hat.
For several seconds, it burned.
Then suddenly the fire went out.
Alexander blinked.
"Oh?"
He crouched down, examining the hat.
"Interesting."
"New runes… new enchantments…"
He tapped the hat thoughtfully.
"Fire doesn't seem to work anymore."
The hat twitched weakly.
"You… haven't damaged me that much…"
Alexander frowned slightly.
"And you haven't spoken a single word during that."
The hat whimpered.
"It hurts… but I know I was wrong in the past!"
"Please forgive me!"
Alexander froze.
Then slowly began laughing.
"You admit to being racist in the past?"
The hat panicked.
"I was not trying to be racist! That is just how I am!"
"PLEASE STOP!"
Alexander instantly repaired the barrier again as cracks began appearing.
"Well…"
He smiled coldly.
"It's too late."
"Wingardium Leviosa."
The hat floated helplessly into the air.
The Sorting Hat suddenly panicked.
"Hey…"
"HEY!"
"PLEASE STOP!"
Alexander raised his wand again.
"Too late."
"Carpe Retractum!"
A glowing rope of magic shot from his wand.
It latched onto the floating hat.
Alexander yanked downward violently.
BOOM!
The hat smashed into the stone floor.
"AAAAAAAH!"
"STOP YOU DEVIL CHILD!"
"HURRY UP AND SAVE ME!"
"HELP!"
Alexander laughed maniacally.
Once again—
"Wingardium Leviosa!"
The hat floated upward.
"Carpe Retractum!"
SLAM!
Up.
Down.
Up.
Down.
Over and over again.
Students began cheering.
Clapping.
Laughing.
"DIE RACIST HAT!"
Alexander shouted gleefully while continuing the brutal magical yo-yo.
The hat screamed each time it hit the floor.
After several minutes, Alexander was enjoying himself so much…
He forgot to repair the barrier.
CRACK.
CRASH.
The professors finally broke through.
Snape moved instantly.
His wand flashed.
"STUPEFY!"
A powerful blast slammed into Alexander.
He was launched backwards across the hall.
Alexander collapsed to the floor unconscious.
But even as he lost consciousness…
A huge smile remained on his face.